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Stars: Crystal J. Huang, Gilles Marini, Karina Smirnoff, Michael Madsen, Phoebe Ho, Scott Lea, Natalia Nikolaeva, Lan Kay, Kyosuke Mukai | Written by Jin Yao | Directed by Crystal J. Huang, Nicholas Ryan

Dark Feathers: Dance of the Geisha – co-directed by star Crystal J. Huang alongside Nicholas Ryan – is the kind of low-budget oddity that keeps me coming back to, and singing the praises of, indie genre cinema. It’s a bizarre blend of noir mystery, martial arts, and ballroom dancing, all wrapped in a narrative that doesn’t always make sense—but somehow, that’s part of its charm.

The film follows Kate, a ballroom dancer and photographer whose partners keep turning up dead, drawing the attention of brooding detective Remy (Gilles Marini). There’s an undercurrent of samurai lore, whispered conspiracies, and plenty of dramatic stares. Crystal J. Huang, who directs and stars, brings an intensity to the role, even...

Actor / Producer Kyosuke Mukai is making a name for himself in the horror genre and leaving a trail of blood behind him. We shine the spotlight on the works of Kyosuke Mukai and see where he’s been and where he’s going.

“I am active in both Japan and the United States. I am good at Samurai’s movements and actions, and I hope I can promote it in the United States by making use of it. I don’t speak English as fluently as an American actor, but instead I cherish acting with the spirit of a samurai. Rather than relying solely on lines, I would like to act while valuing the characters and their feelings. Of course, I am also practicing English. Originally, he appeared in Japanese TV series and one-shot dramas, but he had ambitions to one day challenge himself to American films. Then there is...

"I want to know how I'll die." An official trailer is out for an indie film titled Dark Feathers, described as a psychological thriller involving samurai set in California. It's co-directed, produced by, and stars a Chinese actress named Crystal J. Huang, playing a woman named Kate. Michael Madsen also dons a Japanese Kimono as a "white samurai" operating a traditional clan in modern San Francisco. "With an elegant plot about dancing and martial arts, and a gorgeous cast including multiple world class Dancing with the Stars, the film raises the question about if the mystery of a murder can possibly be solved by logical reasoning." Also with Gilles Marini, Karina Smirnoff, Lan Kay, Scott Lea, and Kyosuke Mukai. A woman must choose loyalty to a historical Asian clan, or her non-traditional love, amidst the deaths of her dance partners being investigated by her new lover. This looks rather strange,...